Another school year has begun, and the Liberal High School Theatre Department is hard at work to bring an entertaining season to the community.

This year, every part of the season focuses on celebrating America; from its youth to its adults, every American can find something that speaks to them.

First up, the group will present, “Growing Up Strange: An Evening of One Acts.” In this series of one-acts are four pieces from great American playwrights.

“Rapunzel Uncut,” by Mariah Everman, is a twisted fairytale. A narrator attempts to tell the classic story of Rapunzel when another narrator comes along who points out some faults in the original story.

In “Bobby Wilson Can Eat His Own Face,” by Don Zolidis, Bobby Wilson finds some faults in his home life. He does the only thing he knows to do when he can’t find happiness at home or school: he runs away and joins the circus.

“Drugs Are Bad,” by Jonathan Rand, teaches us just that: drugs are bad — and sometimes so is a parents’ approach to teaching this important lesson.

As the title of the evening suggests, the four, one-acts are meant to flow like an expedited growth process, thus with the fourth one-act, “And” (by Alan Haehnel), children are seen at the peak of adolescence dealing with serious issues all at the same time.

One worries about their father’s battle with cancer, and one worries about the size of candy bars, and one can’t clear 13 feet in the pole vault.

The entire evening promises to be an interesting look into the mind of America’s children. “Growing Up Strange: An Evening of One Acts” opens at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 and runs through Oct. 16.

To celebrate American men and women in the military, the Advanced Drama class will present “A Piece of My Heart” by Shirley Lauro. When the Vietnam War Memorial was built, people from across America gathered to share their stories and honor the lives of the soldiers who were killed.

In this production, six women share their experiences as Army nurses, military intelligence officers, a Red Cross girl and a performer. While each of them served in different areas and experienced different moments, they are all bound together by the time they spent in Vietnam and how their lives were changed when they returned.

A poignant piece about war, women, and American history, “A Piece of My Heart” will give the audience a reason to laugh and cry with each of these women.

This winter, the Drama Department teams up with the Seward County Community College/Area Technical School to produce “West Side Story.”

Students from both schools will work together to bring this classic musical to life Feb. 17 to 20, 2011, in the James Maskus Auditorium.

“This is something that we are incredibly excited about,” Lauren Peck said, LHS drama teacher. “This is the first time we’ve teamed up to put on a show and it promises to be an amazing experience for all involved.”

The season will be capped off with two special performances. On April 29 to 30, 2011, the advanced drama class — who will have spent the entire year learning about the world of professional theatre — will present their final project: four original one-acts written, produced, and starring members of the class.

The final performance of the year will be a joint production between the drama, art, and English departments at the high school. The evening, called the “Synesthesia Experience,” will be a series of pieces from each department that are all inspired by the other pieces.

The project will begin in the English department where classes will write stories or poems based on a quote given to them. The best pieces chosen from the English department will be sent to the drama department where drama students will write a script in response. The best script will be sent to the broadcasting department where they will be converted into film.

The films will end up in the art department where students will be allowed to create a response in another media, via paintings, sketches, etc. All of the pieces will then be presented in order to an audience of parents and friends.

The entire season will be closed with the annual Ziggy Awards to honor student achievement and induct new thespians. Members of the community are invited to all performances. Show times are 7:30 p.m. unless advertised differently.

Tickets can be bought at the door before each performance or by contacting Lauren Peck at 604-1272 or via e-mail at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.

LIBERAL HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES CAST FOR FALL PLAY

• Special to the Daily Leader

Auditioning is a frightening experience; students are asked to read a piece they’ve never seen before in front of at least 30 of their peers. However, most of them live through the experience and are fortunate enough to be cast in the show.

This fall, the Liberal High School Drama Department and Thespian Troupe No. 3024 will present “Growing Up Strange: An Evening of One Acts.” The following students have been cast in the production:

Production is set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16 with performances in the James Maskus Auditorium. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students/seniors. LHS faculty and staff tickets are $3. Contact Lauren Peck (604-1272 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) for more information.

Front Page

Facebook

No Iframes

About The High Plains Daily Leader

The High Plains Daily Leader and Southwest Daily Times are published Sunday through Friday and reaches homes throughout the Liberal, Kansas retail trade zone. The Leader & Times is the official newspaper of Seward County, USD No. 480, USD No. 483 and the cities of Liberal and Kismet. The Leader & Times is a member of the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Associated Press.

Subscribe

Get the Daily Leader delivered to your home for $101.45 per year in Liberal, or $140 outside Liberal. Call 620-626-0840 for a subscription today. You can receive the print edition or an electronic edition! To subscribe today, email circulation@hpleader.com.